AFC Telford boss reacts to FA Cup exit

AFC Telford United manager Kevin Wilkin admitted his side came up short as they exited the FA Cup.

The Bucks - who could only name three substitutes - were beaten 5-2 after extra-time by Worksop Town in a second qualifying round replay on Tuesday night, having drawn the initial tie 2-2 on Saturday.

And Wilkin conceded his side were the masters of their own downfall in the end, as the numbers game also caught up with them.

“Yeah, I think you have to look at it over two games, plus the extra-time and what have you; the harsh reality is we haven't done enough there,” he said. “We've gifted them some really soft goals, really soft moments, and some real sloppy defending there that doesn't make our job or task any easier.”

In a dramatic, topsy-turvy tie, the Bucks trailed 2-0 with barely 15 minutes remaining, but resurrected in wholly unexpected fashion to take the game to extra-time.

Wilkin recognised the spirit in his injury-depleted squad, but in boxing terms, they eventually took one too many punches. The Bucks finished the game a player short, having used all of their substitutes when Kian Ryley suffered a cut above his eye that left him bleeding and dazed.

“There's a period in there, certainly tonight and a little bit Saturday, where we fall behind late on and manage to find an equaliser,” the boss added. “Certainly, when we drag ourselves back into the game tonight, I think we finish as the stronger side, so to end the game, losing Kian in extra-time, is disappointing.”

The Bucks went into the game without three regular starters Matt Curley, Zak Lilly and Matty Stenson all injured. With resources stretched to breaking point, Wilkin had only three substitutes, used them all, and had no replacement for Ryley, which proved decisive.

“Ten men always becomes really tough,” he said. “We were boxing off and trying to win the game, and you know, there’s nothing in it in the first period (of extra-time). They get late goals, and there’s loose defending again.

“Look, we have to give them (Worksop) credit. They've been better than us over the over the two games, and haven't made the mistakes that we've made, and consequently, they get through to the next round.”

Wilkin’s substitutes helped pick his side off the canvas, with Wrexham loanee Rio Owen scoring the equaliser after 83 minutes, following Remi Walker’s 75th-minute lifeline. Sam McLintock and Jack Lambert also contributed positively, and their manager acknowledged their impact.

“Rio's gone there, and he worked really, really hard,” said the boss. “It's a delight for him to get a goal. I think he made his debut against Merthyr, got a terrific goal there for us, and got off the bench again tonight and got the equaliser for us, worked really, really hard in difficult circumstances.

“He breathed some energy into us, and it's disappointing that we haven't been able to go on and get through the tie, but that period is… The lads deserve great credit because we're going nowhere at one stage, and to keep going and keep fighting and scrapping and battling as they did was brilliant.”